Bioharness™ multivariable monitoring device. Part I: Validity

The bioharness™ monitoring system may provide physiological information on human performance but there is limited information on its validity. the objective of this study was to assess the validity of all 5 bioharness™ variables using a laboratory based treadmill protocol. 22 healthy males participated. heart rate (hr),breathing frequency (bf) and accelerometry (acc) precision were assessed during a discontinuous incremental (0- 12 km·h -1) treadmill protocol. infra-red skin temperature (st) was assessed during a 45 min -1 sub-maximal cycle ergometer test,completed twice,with environmental temperature controlled at 20 ±0.1 °c and 30 ± 0.1 °c. posture (p) was assessed using a tilt table moved through 160°. adopted precision of measurement devices were; hr: polar t31 (polar electro),bf: spirometer (cortex metalyser),acc: oxygen expenditure (cortex metalyser),st: skin thermistors (grant instruments),p:goniometer (leighton flexometer). strong relationships (r =.89 to.99,p < 0.01) were reported for hr,bf,acc and p. limits of agreement identified differences in hr (-3.05±32.20 b·min -1),bf (-3.46 ± 43.70 br·min -1) and p (0.20 ± 2.62°). st established a moderate relationships (-0.61 ± 1.98 °c; r = 0.76,p < 0.01). higher velocities on the treadmill decreased the precision of measurement,especially hr and bf. global results suggest that the bioharresstm is a valid multivariable monitoring device within the laboratory environment. © journal of sports science and medicine (2012).